Message for Cherry
Message for Cherry Hi Cherry
Don’t know if you will be posting over the weekend, but just want to say hope all went well with the op and you are feeling ok.
I’ve got my sister coming for the weekend so will be busy but will check in on Monday!!!
Love Lesley x
hi Lesley- -just seen your post. feeling very well -posted more detail in my usual verbose fashion under "Back without… hope you had a great weekend with your sister.
Love cherryxx
Hi Cherry Hi Cherry
So pleased everything went well and you are back home you must be so relieved!!!
I have an appt with my onc on Wednesday to discuss my period and the results of my blood test to determine my oestrogen levels, so we will see what they have planned for me!!
Had a lovely weekend with my sister didn’t think about bc once which is an achievement!!!
Take care
Love Lesley x
Taking it easy. Hi lesley
Have to say I’m doing really quite well -this is probably a bit of a disadvantage as my husband is treating me a little like I’ve just had my toenails cut! Still it’s Monday, the house is now empty and I’m off work for 4 weeks-enjoy!!
Please let me know how you get on on Weds -have you any other indication that your oestrogen levels might be up (other than the period?) eg, soft supple skin, shiny glossy hair??-all things of the past for me i’m afraid lol.
Cherryx
Hi Cherry Hi Cherry
No none of those things!!! Hot flushes don’t seem as bad hoping because period was sooooooooooo light its going to be fine that’s me the eternal optomist.
Didn’t realise you were a Yorkshire gal so am I both my sisters still live in Leeds, which part of Yorkshire are you from?
Know what you mean about husband’s I think the more surgery you have the more blase they become!!
Enjoy your time off work.
Love Lesley x
Lesley… I see you moved south too! I spent most of my childhood in Doncaster-and my mum and older sister are both still there. I worked for sometime in Leeds (St. James’s Hospital).Visited Leeds on a shopping trip recently -marvellous!
On the subject of hot flushes, I wonder if we are forever destined to have them while we are on Arimidex/tamoxifen? My younger sister (45) had hysterectomy &oopherectomy when she was 28 (gynae probs, not cancer) and has stopped taking HRT within the last couple of years. She was plagued with hot flushes for about 6 months, then they suddenly stopped. My mother (74), had hysterectomy at 39 (again gynae) and Oh my God is STILL having hot flushes!-mind you, I dont think I’ll complain if it means I’m still going at 74!!
Love Cherryx
Hi Cherry Hi Cherry
Back from seeing onc but didn’t see onc saw her registrar who was useless seemed in a rush and no bedside manner!! (my onc is a women and lovely).
Result of blood test shows i’m definitely menopausal which is a good thing no zoladex etc, but that now means I have had an episode of unexplained vaginal bleeding. I’m having a repeat blood test as you know oestrogen levels can fluctuate and a scan of my girlie bits!
Coped well with all this until they couldn’t get any blood and have to go back for them to try again tomorrow at a different hospital (I have an appt there for the surgeon to check my nipple recon) got in the car and burst into tears, I can’t believe how any kind of test, even routine tips me right over the edge!
Anyway back home have just had a call from registrar (apparently my husband rang the oncs secretary and asked the registrar to ring him) to say that he is not at all worried but because I have had 10 months on tamoxifen he is just being thorough and he was very sorry he’s upset me!
So my saga goes on…
Hope you are still doing well, who knows one day we might get chance to meet up in Harvey Nics in Leeds for coffee.
Just off to take the dog out for some fresh air now.
If there are any of you girlies reading this that have had slight bleeding after a chemo induced menopause, would be very interested to hear your stories.
Lots of Love
Lesley x
Lesley… i would start a new post asking about the slight bleeding thing , as I suspect not many ladies will pick it up on this thread.
I dont know whether you’ve seen the thread under “Younger women”_ professor coleman(locked) -I asked a question about arimidex & menopausal status -it looks like he thinks blood tests are unreliable-I would guess for the reasons you state, ie fluctuation.
I’m sooo glad I have rid my self of my uterus & ovaries -a bit less to worry about - but I know what you mean about getting blood out -my arm is swollen and bruised after the latest attempts to get some. I also went into a tail spin about what the “results” would be!
-Just a thought -I had a couple of episodes of watery,slightly blood stained (vaginal) discharge-which turned out to be atrophic vaginitis-lovely.-Was yours heavier than that?–Gynaecologist suggested-vagiform/foam -or something like that-said it would improve life (assume he meant sex-life!) immeasurably. -Fine ,if the libido hadn’t packed up and left home too.lol.
Harvey Nics sounds great!! -I have a sister who lives close to Chippenham -from memory -are you in wilts now?-daren’t go into your profile right now, or I’ll lose this post , then I might have to have a tantrum.
Keep me posted
love cherryxx
Hi Cherry Hi Cherry
I’m in Peterborough, have been here 20 years now, moved with hubby’s job.
Took your advice and posted new topic, it’s re-assuring hearing other peoples experiences.
Really trying not think about it untill I get date for scan, more worried about blood tests actually, I’ve never had a problem with the results from a blood test (had full blood count 6 weeks ago before surgery for nipple recon, which was fine) but i’m always fightened they will pick something up!!!
Hope your taking it easy, have a good day.
Love Lesley xx
Hi Cherry Hi Cherry
Just thought I would say hello and ask how you are feeling, isn’t the sunshine lovely!!!
Just curious what are your thoughts on lifestyle changes after a bc diagnosis, have you changed your diet, tried any complimentary therapies started taking supplements or training for a marathon?
I always had a healthy diet, tried to follow the 80/20 rule (good 80% of the time, naughty 20% to allow for the red wine, chocies etc), was very fit, I did run the London Marathon in 2002 for a bowel cancer charity (my mum died from bowel cancer at 60, which i still don’t think i’m over, she was my best friend as well as my mum) so I thought I had the diet and fitness thing sorted, had to smile at the exercise can help prevent bc as I was probably still running an average of 28 miles a week just before being diagnosed.
Any way I’ve decided that now I’m nearly done with the recon side of things its time to dust off my running shoes and get started again, I am a stone and half heavier than before I was diagnosed and at 5’2" its not pretty!!!
Take care
Love Lesley x
Hi Lesley I’m still enjoying the sunshine! I feel a complete fraud and a bit guilty if I’m honest because I feel so well -11 days post surgery,should be back at work really but i’ve got another 2 weeks off. I’m telling myself I need this because I might be exhausted if I went back now.
Typical of me I went into orbital terror when I was diagnosed -terrified of everything I put in my mouth, practically lived on all things green,gave up dairy,walked every day (we live on a steep hill),taught myself varoius relaxation techniques, bought out Holland &Barrett-and all while I was undergoing chemo! I lost a stone,my clothes hung round me,and with granny thin hair I looked a real mess.Onc threatened if I didn’t gain weight he would reduce the chemo.Eventually some rationality returned (I figured if it was as simple as diet and exercise a lot less women would get BC-so it couldnt be exclusively lifestyle and I thought if I was going to die I might as well go happy. I LOVE food(well-except celery & offal).
I’m babbling on a bit, but now I just eat well. fresh fruit and veg,chiken, fish, red meat occassionally, wholemeal bread and pasta& small amounts of dairy ( I adore cheese, so need to watch it a bit).enjoyed reflexology when I was being treated.
BUT - I am SO lazy -I really admire your running.Before BC , I used to swim fairly regularly but that stopped when I had the vision of my wig floating down the pool ahead of me!-no excuse now though.–oops run out of space…to be continued…
continued… -you might notice I can talk for England, as well as worry for it!
Anyway, you have inspired me to get moving! My husband is a runner and at the end of next week (23rd) we are going to the lake district for a week with his running club for him to do some run or other (I will be taking part in the organised walks , and helping to eat cake-but that’s it!!
I think we can beat ourselves up about the diet exercise thing - I’m so sorry you lost your mum at such a young age -dread the thought of losing mine. lost my dad to lung cancer 11 years ago,and that was bad.I’m sure you know there’s thought to be a link between bowel and breast (not quite sure why though -do you know?)-it’s amazing what can cause or prevent BC if you read the press!
Crikey , I’d better stop droning on now, or I’ll run out of space again.Let me know how the running goes–i’m being nosey now, but what sort of recon did you have done,? must admit to not knowing too much about recons.
Love cherry xx
PS- I’m a whole inch taller than you!!
Hi Girls, It’s me… Frances. Soooo glad to hear you’re recovering so well from the op. I am having my Mammogram tomorrow and blood tests. Reading your thread makes me think I must discuss this oopherectomy thing again. No periods but still concerned. Cherry did you have full confidence in your gyneacologist/ surgeon.? If you did could you let me have his/her name so that I can work out who I could see . Did you have all your surgery by Laparoscopy or did you need a major incision.? anyway well done.
lol Frances
Hi Frances Yes -I’m really very well (watch me get a major infection now!).The Gynae -oncologist consultant was fabulous, with a lovely bedside manner which helped enormously. I initially saw him privately at our local BUPA hospital, but when they wouldn’t play ball , he agreed to do it on NHS.He specialises in laproscopic surgery and once I was certain it was going to be him performing the op, he agreed to do laproscopically assisted hysterectomy at same time. 2 teeny incisions on abdomen that didn’t even need stitching -and no more smears- whoopee! His name is Simon Butler-Manuel & I would thoroughly recommend him- not sure where you are geographically but he works out of St. Lukes cancer Centre, Guildford. It was a bit of a hike for me , but well worth it.
Anyway , Good luck with the mammo tomorrow -what are the blood tests for -routine??-let us know how it goes!
Love Cherryxx
PS -he has a website- www.hysterectomyspecialist.com
wrong web address… -sorry,the website is co.uk - not .com
Cherry
thanks Hi Cherry, that is so helpful. I will now have a recommended name I can request to see on the nhs as I’m sure my pp won’t cover it. I had decided not to have the op so long as I can have a regular 3 monthly blood test to check my oestradiol levels. I feel very concerned about my hormones as my Ca was so receptive to both Oestrogen and progesterone. You must be dancing jigs now knowing you’re free from all that worrying side of things.
Cherry I know you have been low in the past with worry about recurrence and I have said I feel I am staying quite bright about it. Well I guess it’s because it’s exactly one year ago that i was undergoing mastectomy and dealing with the news that I had Cancer but at the moment I’m feeling quite low about it all. I am scared stiff especially after reading some of the stuff Prof Coleman had to say about Chemo not having such a good effect on tumour reduction for hormone receptive cancers. While I was having chemo I investigated this on the net and raised it with our Prof. He was very abrupt with his answer and said it had only been the findings in one subtest and he may have a point but I’m scared that if any metastatic cells were in my body at the time of the chemo would they have responded to it. I just feel very low and fed up that I’m having to go through all these tests again. I thought I was going to be quite laid back about these reviews but I don’t feel that way at the moment.
sorry for going on I just need to get it off my chest. Thanks for all your info
Frances
Hi Frances It’s a real bummer when you hit a low patch and one of the trigger points for me is when i have a check coming up - all the hideous emotions come sharply back into focus, so I’m not surprised your down right now. How did the mammo go? -I know you probably wont get results for a short while-more waiting!! are the blood tests routine?- I think prof suggested these 3 months after I’d finished rads-and I refused.-scaredy cat.
I have found it really hard to live with node positive disease (as i’m sure most of us do) but
you cheered me no end when you said prof had said to you, there was a 90% chance you’d be around in 10 years -so try to hold on to that ( i only believe stats when they are in my favour ha ha!). Keep your chin up and let me know when those results come in.
Love cherryx
Hi Frances and Cherry Good Morning Girls
I hope this might make you feel a little better.
I had my chemo pre-surgery ( I was Oestrogen positive) 45 when diagnosed my tumor was 4.5cm which shrank by half with fec (Cherry I know you wish you had received fec and taxol) and then wasn’t palpable by the time I had finished the 4 taxol, so my theory is that if it can get rid of a 4.5cm lump then microscopic cells don’t stand a chance!!!
Cherry the shrinkage with fec seemed to be just as effective as with the taxol.
In answer to your question about my recon, I decided to have immediate recon with a tissue expander which was then inflated over a few weeks and then later replaced with an implant. I couldn’t face having surgery on other parts of my body and also the length of those ops scared me as well. It will never be like your own boob but it is very good and in a bra no one would ever no.
I’ve been running twice this week (do hope you are impressed!) only 1 mile each time, but its a start.
Have a good day
Love Lesley xx
ooo Lesley your’re a little star… that’s made me feel a bit better , I’m such a worry guts. I worry about the speed of my tumour growth -it was 2.2cm on ultrasound and 2 weeks later at surgery it was 3cm with a further 0.9mm of DCIS. I so wish I had been offered neoadjuvant chemo -not really for the cosmetic effect - but so I could see if there was shrinkage -anyway, no good wailing over spilt milk!
Lesley -sorry for this question- but does your recon boob have feeling?My lumectomied boob can still feel slightly tender if I press it, or my ribs come to that. Also -when you have a limb amputated (not that I have suffered that one -yet!!)-you get phantom feelings -is it like that with a missing boob ? I hope you dont think I’m rubber necking at a car crash -just trying to gather reliable info. incase I have to go through it myself at some point.
Been to Brighton today -glorious weather.Struggled to open my deckchair, then sat like the retired-face upturned to the sun. All that was missing was a tartan rug!-It was nice though.Well done with the running. I AM impressed, and I WILL get going myself --soon-honest!
Love Cherry xx